Shipping container



April 22, 1952 w. R. KQHL 2,593,895

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l f l --20 E 122 g3 O j@ G $0645?? 1f "./14

Il I /l f6 l [15;- Z .-19 jp tl Il 9% 'je'- i l i :wu ff Q Q +16 /Mwlm 0 n@ C) 0 2 za if @1' O @1% 10M f' i l, INVENTOR. 5 E? WdZL'CLm/Rof,

April 22, 1952 w. R. Kol-M 2,593,895

SHIPPING CONTAINER uw [56? W www W f f5 Q l lil/iff@ j@ W Z0 Z0. INVENTOR.

l JU mmm/2%@ 9 Q7 MMM/Mm April 22, 1952 w. R. Kol-n. 2,593,895

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 2z, 1952 w. R. OHL 2,593,895

SHIPPING CONTAINER 17' 194g 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug.

\ f mw V #52H u gi 1W 30 l5 if) INVENTOR.

WZZLQUZ JZ mma-5% Patented Apr. 22, 1952 SHIPPING contaminawilliam` Rimini, Glenview, 111.1 Y

Applicationnugust-17, 194s; serial-No; 44,:712

1Q"` This:inventionipertainsitoanrmproved;fsemi rigid" shipping container?` z whiclri :is "particularly Well `adaptedlilfor the 'shippingfof pottedx plants, plantslin` soilfcontainin'g .forms orifjackets; grow@- ing `bulbscand. relatedior; `similam` shaped zobjects. l In particular, a planthavin'g :its rootszembedded in a substantial amount:ofJsoilTobviouslyirequires `considerable ,connnementixandblbracingiincshipmenttin `'order' to preventithesoil fronabecoming dislodged'ifrom'the r roots wands-allowedi to escape `s into the portion off' the? container:I infwhicliiA 1 the stem orl longitudinally projectingportion'foiffthc plant or otherfarticleisirec'eived` Itf'. is' also highly desirablef'that Jthisl last named? portion ab'e braced andrestrainedffonrirunduePlateral,jostzliixgu?` out in th'eform of a'onepiece:Manheim-creased, ,g

quick manipulation thereof-'tofa iinallarticlef eniclosingcondition,` W-hichcontainer is `employed conjunction'Witlmncvel `provisions lfor bracing and supporting an l articlefrsuclr'fasfvaf plant' for shipment `by parcel postlor *thief-like;`

vAnother' `object is? to 1 provide! a1: receptacle or containerof the foregoingtype'whicli is compartmented` to `receivefand house afplralityof-fplants or l like objectsrin aLmanner` tof` separate.and 4re"- :i

strainthe: sameiindividuallysand to `preventdamaging impacts theretordueto;jostling-inishipment orfhandlingf.;A

A' still ,further` object-is to provide Yfa ishipping container A of semierigicl `character :i adapted `to be quickly, erected `to. operative condition `which is strongly braced `and.rigidifiedWheninthat condition to withstand shipping .shocks, and `which does not :require the:` use ofany further enclosing, or vvrappingmeansA to adapt the same. for shipping through any'of the usualagencies.

Yet'a further andmoreyspeciclobject is..to provide a foldable;VV compartmented container or recepta'clefof theabovetypeincludingindividual partition 'or dividerelments' adapted to" assist in laterally andl longitudinally restraining an article or articles therein, said receptacleand dividers being :positively i engaged frictionally with onef'anotherftoipreventzdisplacementnfthlatter.

compartmented shipping-receptacle ofthe-above typerincluding foldablebottom, `side .and top. wall members adapted to be disposed in predetermined fixed' rrelationito-one1anothen to` compartmentize 1 the receptacle; ytogetherwith a novel `angednend structure adapted tof be disposed .in internally telescopedxandu `secured Airelationf tox said'z wall members in a manner `to strongly. lbrace :the-same against inadvertent withdrawal or` displacement, asi` Well asf to^ greatly,-trigidify`- the'V receptacle Vfas afwhole'.;

Generally; it isan object ltouprovidaafcontainer or1receptaciehaving the Aforegoing rfeatures' which is sufficiently sturdy for shipmentzin Vunwrappled condition, requiring only the afllxaton cf'pxoper addresses: andrpostage: directlyythereto which is provided with'faf multiplicity; of ifventilatingj; openings:.forfa=plant or likewgrowingobject encased therein; whichy 4is ivery ccompac'rfpin'` xsize `and Leconomical as :fregards' fthe', material; and manufacturing; operations: involvedz 'in` fabricating the same;` and whichiswell. adaptedto receive acari ventional stypef" of t' securing; `means s to holdits parts ,finroperative `relation;

The-ri Vforegoing 1 .statements-z are, indicative; in a general:` way: of f thema-ture ofiV `the invention,

but f otherV and more'rspecicnobjects; will be-,ape

parent" to those skilled f in the 1 artv upon f a lfull understandingI zof the construction and-'f operation of the device.

'I'fwo.embodimentsw` of thev invention 1 arecpresentedhereinfor purposeVv VofLfexemplilication;but it4 `will' "be fappreciated :that the', inventionf is susceptible lofincorporationin other fmodified forms comingifequallyywithin the' scopeof thenappendedl claims;`

In` thezdrawings; 1

Fig; 1 isfa-perspective view;ofithefshipping receptacle ,or` container oi the invention,v showing the same im nal erectedy condition: and f; illustrating, in dotted lines', `enpottedwplant encased in 'a' soil containing; form-:Which is received 1 in the.container;as-:weilasrcertain internal divider elements which serve=tolaterally-andg longitudinally-.f'bracew-and restraintlierplant and-"forma Fig;` 2 is "a plan View of'jthe:blanlslrequireddor the-e container of :Fig: l, illustratingthe manner of aperturingsandf creasing the: blank tow permit foldingmanipulation thereof Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryperspective view more clearly illustrating :the `plant to be" shipped'xin-its relation toga' common-:type offsoil 'confining form ori-j aicket;4 suchz'as fisi employed; in: putting- .upzthe bers;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View in end elevation of the closed and sealed container; and

Figs. 7 through 11 are views which are generally similar to Figs. l, 2, 4, and 6 respectively, illustrating a container in accordance with the somewhat modified embodiment of the invention, which is of augmented capacity but which embodies the basic principles involved in the rst embodiment, Fig. 10 being in section along line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

For the sake of simplicity, the structural features of said container, in both embodiments thereof, are described in relation to an adaptation for the shipment of growing plants, in which the bulb or root is embedded in soil; however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theu containers are equally well suited for the cartoning and shipment of other, generally similarly shaped types of articles, which present equivalent requirements in the handling and protection thereof during shipment, handling or storage.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the reference numeral I0 generally designates the improved shipping receptacle or container inV accordance with the invention, a plant or like article P being illustrated in dotted lines as housed within one compartment of the receptacle. .The

yplants are customarily put upwith a quantity of soil or fertilized material in conventional, cheap wood veneer plant forms or jackets such as is Villustrated in Fig. 3. This jacket may be further `encased for the 'purpose of shipping in a protective wrapper of waxed paper or the like, but it has been deemed desirable to omit illustration of the latter in order to preserve clarity of the drawings as much as possible.

YThe container I) is shown in its final form ready for shipment, it being only necessary to apply thereto the addressof the consignee and the proper'postage, as on the bottom panel thereof. The container is fabricated from a blank of the type illustrated in Fig. 2, which is in the form cfa sheet of considerably stii and strong paper board, cardboard of like inexpensive material, subdivided by the crease or score lines to be described into a plurality of panels or sections.

rThese sections include a bottom II outlined by the pairs of longitudinal and transverse creases I2, I3. Greases I3 serve to iiexibly con- 'join to the bottom a pair of opposed identical end sections I4, each of which includes the end wall I5 flexibly conjoined by one of a pair of creases le to a hinging flange I'I. Said flange is in turn hinged to the bottom panel II by the aforementioned crease line I3. End walls I5 also are provided with lateral iiange-like tabs I 8. bendably connected to the walls by creases I8, and a free end tabV I9 conjoined thereto by a crease I6. The purpose of this anged end construction will later appear.

A pair of sidewalls 25 are flexibly conjoined' to the bottom II by the creased hinging lines I2 and in turn have the similar top or cover members 2I flexibly conjoined thereto by parallel creased lines 22. Said side walls and top members are provided with a plurality of Ventilating apertures 23 for an obvious purpose and one thereof is provided with a pair of notched thumb recesses 24 at opposite end margins thereof.

Terminal bracing and compartmentizing flaps 25 are disposed along opposite side margins of the blank, beingV iiexibly connected to the top members 2| by the creased hinge lines 26, and it will be noted that each of these iiaps is subdivided into three parts by the inwardly directed, equally spaced, transverse slots 21. Said slots extend from the terminal margins `of flaps 25 partially inwardly of their transverse dimensions. Cross Ventilating apertures 23 may be formed in the center subdivision of the flaps 25 and the other two subdivisions of each nap carry longitudinally protruding locking ears 29. In order to lockingly engage with these ears in a manner which is hereinafter described in detail, the end walls I5 of each of the end sections I4 are provided with shaped, keyhole type openings 3i) lo cated centrally of the walls and intermediate the respective crease lines I6.

Reference is next directed to Fig. 5, wherein is best illustrated the structural details of one of the divider elements 3| which are employed in conjunction with the foregoing structure, for the purpose of longitudinally and laterally confining the plants P housed in the receptacle. This element is stamped from cardboard or like stock of about the same grade as the blank shown in Fig, 2, in an approximately M-shaped outline, as viewed in Fig. 5. This provides a central depending portion or foot 32 havin-g a vertical cleft 33 therein, wherein the terminal flaps 25 of the container are received in operative erected condition, and a pair of enlarged recesses 34 which accommodate the stem S of the plant, or the elongated portion of any `other article involved.

In employing the container, the blank shown in Fig. 2 is initially folded along crease lines I2 to `bring the side members 2B into upstanding relationto the bottom II. The plant is then placed in position on said bottom, approximately as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this connection it may be noted that the width of the bottom II is approximately twice the width of the plant form or jacket J and that the side member 20 and top member 2I are each about equal to its width. Likewise, the jacket J is positioned withI its inner end adjacent the slots 2'I of the opposed flaps 25 so that when a divider is positioned across said end it will be in transverse register with said slots. The space left between the opposite end of the jacket and the end margin of bottom I I approximates the width of the end wall hinging flange I'I.

A second plant may be disposed in side-byt side relation to the rst, and with its stem extending inthe same direction, or, if it is desired to better equalize the weight distribution of the resultant container, the jacket J of the second plant may be reversed. With the plants so positloncd, the dividers 3I are slipped in place, one immediately adjacent the inner end of each jacket J, and in transverse alignment with the respective slots 2l of locking flaps 25. The cover members 2| are then swung inwardly toward one another along the respective creased hinges 22 and iiaps 25 are then directed downwardly, in

side-by-side relation, causing the V` respectve slots 21 to telescope into and straddlethe clefts 33 of said Vdivider elements 3|.

Inthis lposition ,the` respective end ilapsections offlapjziwillengage snugly against the adjacent side ofgtheplant sheathingjacket J. Saidflaps will also;sustain the divider elements 3l` against endwise .or-longitudinal displacement by `engaging oppositeimargins of the slots 2l; The` recesses 34:ofz' said divider elements exert lateral confningfactiononthe stem` S of the plants,` as is also clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

To complete the manipulation of the container, the flanges I8, I9 of the end sections I are next swung downwardly or outwardly to impart a anged box-like outline thereto, and the end section is then swung upwardly and inwardly. This brings the end walls I5 against the adjacent outer end of the plant jacket J, so as to shift the same inwardly into snug engagement with the divider 3|. In doing this, the flanges Il, I8 and I9 become snugly nested frictionally within the adjacent surfaces of the bottom I I, side members 2l] and top members 2l, and the shaped slot 30 in said end wall slides over the pair of locking tongues 29, in the fashion illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. This telescoped entry of sections I4 into the container additionally and very strongly braces the container as a whole, especially at its end walls. Moreover, the point of penetrated interengagement of the end wall or panel I5 by the longitudinally extending locking ears 29 of the partition aps 25 is withdrawn inwardly of the container end, so that said ears are protected against displacement or damage by accidental impact.

If desired, conventional staples or the like may be applied to superposed areas of the top members 2| and flange I9 to hold the parts in place. although the frictional engagement of the flanges in the manner mentioned tends considerably to prevent inadvertent displacement under ordinary handling.

When properly addressed, and with postage applied thereto, the container may be placed in the mail at once for parcel post shipment. Upon arrival at its destination, it is only necessary to remove the staples and withdraw the end sections I, the thumb recesses 24 affording access to flange I9 for this purpose. The top members 2| are then readily lifted up to expose the contents for removal.

The Ventilating openings 23, 28 insure a healthful condition for the plants in shipment. As stated above, it may be desirable to enclose the plant form J in a wrapper prior to placing the same in the container, in order to avoid spilling of loose dirt. However, the container eliminates the need for any further wrapping or confining means and thus preserves the ventilation of the plant. It is rigid and distortion resistant, and by reason of these characteristics is capable of repeated re-use, if desired. However, its construction is so inexpensive that it may also be discarded following one use.

The modiiied embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 through II difers only slightly from the form which is the subject matter of Fig-s. 1 through 5, primarily in being designed to accommodate three plants or like articles, instead of two. Due to this fact, it has a slightly different type of divider element associated therewith and is proportioned somewhat differently. Accordingly, like reference characters have been employed to designate like parts in so far as the common features of the two structures are concerned.

6 Referring to Figs 7f through 111, it' will be `noted that thevbottomr I I and* their end-walls` luare'approximately three times. thev width of vthe l side walls 2li andthat! one of vthe cover members, designatedzl to distinguish .the samedis of twice the `width ofthe side-members. The final` ap.-

pearance of the erected container is illustratedin tending partition member 39 of sheet stock is em- 36 in which the aps 25 are not positioned. The

two-width space between bottom II and top member 2|' is thus equally subdivided into two compartments, which in addition to the compartment beneath cover 2|, adapt this form of container for the reception and'shipment of three articles. Each of such articles has the stem thereof laterally restrained in a recess 31 of the divider and the jacket or related part longitudinally restrained from endwise movement by the divider element 36 itself. Obviously, this embodiment possesses all of the advantages of the first described form, in addition to its augmented capacity.

I claim:

l. A container of the type described, comprising a blank of relatively stiff material folded to define a bottom, a pair of side walls ilexibly conjoined to opposite margins of the bottom, a pair of cover members flexibly conjoined to said side walls, and a pair of aps on said cover members positionable in parallel, longitudinally extending relation to depend internally of and at least partially subdivide the container interior, a partition element disposable transversely of said interior in interengaged relation to said flaps, and an end section flexibly conjoined to an end of said bottom and disposable normal to the bottom in telescoped relation internally of said container a substantial distance inwardly of the adjacent end of the latter, said end section being apertured to receive the adjacent end of said flaps inwardly of the adjacent container end margin, said end section including laterally projecting tab means and a panel integrally hinging the same to said bottom, said tab means and panel frictionally engaging the inside of the container inwardly of said end margin.

2. A container of the type described, comprising a blank of relatively stiff material folded to denne a bottom, a pair of side walls exibly cony joined to opposite margins of the bottom, a pair of cover members flexibly conjoined to said side walls, and a pair of flaps on said cover members positionable in parallel, longitudinally extending relation to depend internally of and at least partially subdivide the container interior, a partition element separate from said blank disposable transversely of said interior in interengaged relation to said flaps, and an end section flexibly conjoined to an end of said bottom and disposable normal to the bottom in telescoped relation internally of said container a substantial distance inwardly of the adjacent end of the latter, -said end section being apertured to receive the adjacent end of said aps inwardly of the adjacent container end margin, said end section including laterally projecting tab means and a panel integrally hinging the same to said bottom, said tab means and panel frctionally engaging the inside of the container inwardly of said end mar- WILLIAM R. KOHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS N umher Name Date Carter Sept. 17, 1912 Taylor Feb. 21, 1933 Luhn Dec. 27, 1938 Schrell June 18, 1940 Fairchild Mar. 30, 1943 Shoemaker Dec. 7, 1943 Broderick Apr. 11, 1944 Richey June 21, 1949 

